Tamping apparatus.



R. B. CATHERMAN.

TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16. 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I Patented May 30, 1916.

R. B. CATHERMAN.

TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16.11am.

Patented May 30, 1916.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2.

requires considerable ROBERT B. CATHEBMAN, OF WEST DECATUR, PENNSYLVANIA.

TAMPING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed October 16, 1915. Serial No. 56,330.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. CATHER- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vest Decatur, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tamping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a tamping device, and more particularly to the class of self feeding tamping apparatuses.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character,

wherein the holes in a mine, either clay or coal, are automatically tamped, thereby obviating the filling of the holes with dirt and the tamping of the same by hand, which labor or the part of the miner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein the construction thereof is novel in form, so that the barrel of the same can be firmly fastened in the hole containing the dynamite, and the tamping successfully executed with despatch.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein the dirt for filling the hole is contained in a hopper and the feed of said dirt therefrom is automatically controlled, so that the required quantity is delivered to the barrel of the tamping apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this char acter, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, readily and easily manipulated, strong, durable, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a side elevation of a tamping apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2, is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3, is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation, showing the apparatus applied to the hole. Fig. 4, is a sectional view on the line H of Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6, is a plan view of the blank from which the body of the tamping apparatus is made. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, in detail, the tamping apparatus comprises a barrel 10, of cylindrical form, made from a blank A,

of sheet metal, having edge seams B, interlocked with each other, and extending for a portion of the length of the barrel l0, intermediate its ends, to hold the latter in cylindrical form, while one end portion of said barrel has its meeting edges free from each other to provide an expansible nipple 11, to be inserted in the hole to be tamped, and on these meeting edges are formed registering ears 12, which are parallel with each other, one being tapped with a thumb screw 13, which is adapted to work against the other ear, so on the adjustment of the said screw the nipple 11, can be expanded for the fastening of the same in the hole. This nipple 1.1, has struck outwardly therefrom spaced from its free end edge a bead 14:, which limits the insertion of the nipple in the hole in the mine.

Formed on the barrel l0, medially thereof and at the upper side of the same is a hopper 15, adapted to contain dirt to be used for tamping the hole in the mine, and this hopper has communication with the barrel 10, through a neck 16, forming a delivery passage 17, having arranged therein a trip valve or cut off 18, carried upon a'pivot shaft 19, journaled in the sides of the neck 16, one end of the shaft being formed with a crank or arm 20, to which is connected one end of a coiled retractile spring 21, having its other end connected without the neck 16,

and this spring serves to normally hold the valve or cut oif 18, in closed position to closev the passage 17, from the hopper 15, to the barrel 10, and thus prevent the delivery of dirt thereinto until the valve or cut oil is automatically opened, in a manner presently described.

Within the barrel 10, is a slidable tamping plunger or rod 22, which is formed at its inner end with a head 23, while at the outer end is a hand knob 24:, and this plunger rod 22, on movement inwardly of the said barrel forces the charge into the hole in the mine for the tamping of said hole, the valve or out ofl 18, being formed with a trip nose 25, which provides a shoulder to cooperate with the head 23, on the plunger or rod 22, when moved outwardly for the opening of the valve or cut off 18, to permit the delivery of a charge from the hopper into the barrel 10, in advance of the head 23, for the carriage of said charge into the hole to be tamped, on the inward movement of the said plunger or rod, which is actuated by hand.

When the plunger or rod 22, travels inwardly the same engages a cam'edge 26, formed on the valve or cut ofi 18, so that it will be automatically closed during the tamping operation, and thus shut ofl the feed from the hopper while movement of the plunger or rod inwardly of the barrel for the tamping of the hole in the mine.

From the foregoing it is thought that the' construction and manner of operation of the apparatus will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is: p

1. A tamping apparatus comprising a barrel having an expansible nipple end, means for expanding the nipple end, a

hopper on the barrel, means for shutting off communication between the hopper and barrel, and a tamping element movable within the barrel and automatically controlling the second named means for opening and closing communication between the hopper and barrel.

2. A tamping apparatus comprising a barrel, a hopper on said barrel, a tamping rod slidably fitted within the barrel, and a trip valve for controlling communication between the hopper and barrel and automatically closed and opened on reciprocating movement of the rod.

3. A tamping apparatus comprising a barrel, a hopper on said barrel and communicating with the latter, a tamping rod slidably fitted Within the barrel, a spring closed trip valve for controlling communication between the hopper and barrel, and automatically opened by movement of the rod, and means for expanding one end of the barrel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT B. CATHERMAN.

flopies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentm Washington, D. G. 

